The Lost Art of Applause

A simple gesture, a clap of one's hands and yet, you possess the power to encourage someone else. I started to think about our Worship Band on Sunday mornings. This young group of musicians puts every ounce of themselves into lifting up a joyful noise for the congregation. I am always one of the first to applaud. You know why? Because I know it gives them a sense of worth, a feeling of accomplishment and it is my joyful noise back to their ears. My way of saying, "Well done!"

Have you ever been center stage? It is the audience's applause that is music to your ears because it means you have succeeded in accomplishing something for someone else. It makes me wonder why more people don't applaud with gusto? It is an inexpensive but priceless offering of appreciation.

Sometimes I "clap" when I'm alone watching something truly motivating or sensational on the television. No one can hear my applause but me and it still makes me smile. I'm acknowledging something of worth and it doesn't cost me anything except a little effort.

We need to begin to applaud the actions and accomplishments of others - you know those individuals who stand up or stand out. Alexander Hamilton once said,

"Those Who Stand For Nothing, Fall For Anything"

It's okay to stand up and applaud at times, too. A standing ovation should be reserved for those stellar accomplishments. Sometimes it is acceptable to applaud when the performance is not so great. I remember attending the youngest daughter's school play - the props fell, the 'actor's' lines were jumbled and still, we applauded their efforts. I think we threw in a standing ovation to boot and, yes, that was highly acceptable.

Why do people withhold applause? Is it perhaps because they feel there were times when they should have been recognized and were not? Don't we all long to be in the spotlight ourselves and perhaps, we feel that giving too much praise to someone else precludes us from getting applause? Maybe it's human nature. Maybe it takes too much effort to clap our hands. Or maybe, just maybe, the art of recognition is going by the wayside.

Don't let it slip into obscurity - start clapping and standing when you see or hear someone else doing something really special. Otherwise, we'll be left waiting for the torch to pass and there won't be anyone there to pass it to.

Hopefully, the applause has not left the building.